Crewmembers of the Gallant Fox called Sector North Carolina watchstanders at 5 a.m. Thursday relaying that a crewman was missing and presumed to have fallen overboard. Watchstanders began launching vessels and aircraft to search for the man. They also sought help by broadcasting an urgent marine information broadcast to notify other mariners in the area via radio and used enhanced group calls to notify ships via satellite communication.

Rescue crews searched a total of 3,210 square nautical miles with the following vessels and aircraft: